The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everyone.
Committed to the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goal, Iqra University is making its mark by embedding SDGs within our governance, teaching, community initiatives, research and partnerships. Following programmes and events are led by IU Faculty, Staff and Students in the area of Goal 13: Climate Action.
Striving to become a Sustainable University by 2030
Iqra University as one of leading institutions of Pakistan, is working towards a strategic plan to enable the University to transition into becoming a sustainable university by 2030. The aim of the ambitious goal is to integrate sustainability into teaching methodologies, research objectives, operations and management, and finally to translate the University’s overall vision into action by identifying targets and priority actions needed to achieve this milestone.
Top 10 in Pakistan by UI GreenMetric as the most Sustainable University
Iqra University is ranked No. 1 in Sindh & Top 10 in Pakistan by “UI GreenMetric World University Ranking” initiated by “Universitas Indonesia” in 2010 ranks universities globally for their environmental commitment, efforts & initiatives towards creating a Sustainable Campus. The ranking for a green campus depends on 39 indicators divided into six criteria; Setting & infrastructure, Energy & Climate Change, Waste, Water, Education and Research, and Transportation Having achieved another landmark as one of the leading Universities in Pakistan, we are consistently striving to become an utterly Sustainable University by following International Green Standards and providing an Eco-Friendly Educational Environment.
Our Infrastructure is Clean, Green and Sustainable
Our buildings are designed with peoples in mind, all of our buildings have numerous recreational spaces, libraries, loads of greenery, buildings powered by renewable energy and well-maintained, clean sanitary areas. Following our mission to become a fully sustainable university by 2030, we have already worked towards the plan; which includes installation of Solar Panels across campuses, Energy-Efficient Air-Conditioning Systems, Green Star Appliances and other energy efficient electricals in new and buildings more than 10 years old. Moreover, we have also introduced Transportation & Shuttle service and Ticketed Parking at campus vicinity to reduce the number of private vehicles, reducing the pollution.
Lush Green Campus
Our campuses are composed of 70% open, green areas with lush greenery and habitat of numerous kinds of flora & fauna.
United Nations World Environment Day
Every year we celebrate, UN World Environment Day, showcasing students’ projects and reaffirming our commitment to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2030. The day was celebrated, participated in, and applauded by thousands of the University’s students, faculty members, and staff for raising awareness and advocacy. Students’ Societies organised multiple infotainment activities, including Ethics and Social Responsibility and Introduction to Futures Studies students’ projects, laughter yoga, an open mic session, and a musical concert.
Freedom Plantation Drive
The biggest challenge in maintaining and restoring our land ecosystem is deforestation, the lack of trees and vegetation has resulted in increased temperatures and worst air quality, major metropolitan cities of Pakistan are feeling it hard to breathe. Keeping this in mind, we have started the “Freedom Plantation Drive” on all of its campuses in collaboration with provincial and federal governments for numerous plantation projects and campaigns, a couple of which were the “Sarsabz Sindh Project” and the “Billion Tree Tsunami”. Last year the University aimed for planting a MILLION trees by the end of 2021 and we have successfully achieved our mission.
Community Initiatives for Better Waste Management Practices
As part of our course Ethics & Social Responsibility, we have organised various year long cleaning drives, in collaboration with local district councils, where the students & faculty members regularly visit public & recreational spaces to spent hours picking up debris and waste, sweeping it clean and educate the local masses of conscious purchasing and responsible waste disposal.
Upcycling Pre-Loved Clothes, Toys & Household Items for Needy & Deserving
Our clothes buying practices have tremendously changed in the past decade due to fast fashion, rapidly changing trends and increasing buying power, same goes for Pakistan. Due to no defined mechanism for recycling of clothes, worn out toys & other household items, the majority of such unprocessed items end up in landfills and seas of Karachi. In order to reduce the waste generated by our local hometown, we conduct regular drives for collecting; clothes, slippers, utensils, lifestyle and other household items. These items then are cleaned, checked, segmented and donated in collaboration with our community partners.
